King's College Students' Concert 1998

Date: 14 July 1998

Location: Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall

We must give three cheers to our mother school - King's College - for organizing the first ever students' concert with so much success and which brings fond memory to the audience, the performers and the crew. In 2 1/2 hours, the musical talent of Kingsians was demonstrated with performances of the orchestra, choir, Chinese instrumental group and harmonica band, but we must not forget the spirit of all those involved which contributes invisibly to the success of the event.

The Quintet gave a performance of Vivaldi's Spring in the second half of the concert. We had to make a slight change in our make-up as one of our members was unavailable. Despite this change, we still managed to give a satisfactory performance (we think so, and apparently, the audience shared our feelings).

What was more impressive is the harmonica band performance immediately afterwards which is also the final programme of the evening (thanks for the school authority for giving us this honor). With the help of about 20 old boys and guest players from Belilios Public School in the wind and percussion sections, the 70-people harmonica band (which is the biggest ever in the history of King's College Harmonica Band) made some amazing sounds in the Concert Hall of City Hall (which is famous for its acoustic effect).

The band started off with Ketelbey's In a Persian Market which vividly describes what happens in the marketplace: the camel-drivers approaches; the beggars cry; the beautiful princess enters, watching the jugglers and snake-charmers, and then interrupted by the passage of the caliph; finally the caravan departs, leaving the place deserted. The audience was then led to a calm and yet passionate atmosphere of Mascagni's Intermezzo from the opera Cavalleria Rusticana. The final work was Offenbach's Overture from the opera Orpheus in the Underworld which features a powerful opening, followed by a number of beautiful thematic passages by various solo instruments, before finishing with the famous feverish can-can dance. Some of the most memorable dynamics and melodies were presented in these performances which were greatly applauded by the audience.

The concert was concluded with the school choir and harmonica band leading the audience to sing the school song.

We wish to thank Mr. Ho Yue-shun, the Principal, Mr. Leung Chik-wing and Mr. Lam Wai, the Assistant Principals, and Miss Fung Hing-yee, the Music Panel and Music Director of this concert for giving us a chance to participate in this meaningful and memorable event.